A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks. A read signal emanating from the head is sampled to generate read samples, and first log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) are generated in response to the read samples. The first LLRs are

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk. An analog touchdown (TD) signal is compared to a TD threshold in order to generate a calibrated TD threshold for a plurality of different dynamic fly height (DFH) settings. The calibrated TD thresholds and corresponding

A pushpin assembly for a spiral track writer is provided. The pushpin assembly includes a body, a bushing, and a pushpin. The body mounts on a pushpin arm of a spiral track writer. A cavity is defined in the body and extends between a first opening and a second opening of the body. The

Decoding data written over a plurality of tracks includes selecting a mask that accounts for Inter-Symbol-Interference, the mask including channel coefficients and defining a trellis defining a plurality of states; receiving a signal corresponding to an input pixel from each of the p

A data storage device is disclosed including a non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of memory segments. The LBAs of a read command are mapped to PBAs addressing the memory segments. At least two seed values corresponding to two of the LBAs are generated and stored in an array.

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, a volatile semiconductor memory (VSM), and a command queue. A plurality of write commands received from a host are stored in the command queue, and write data for the write commands is stored in the VSM. A flush time n

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of physical zones including a first physical zone and a second physical zone, wherein the first physical zone comprises data tracks recorded at a first data rate and the second physical zone compr

A disk drive is disclosed wherein during a write operation a write fly height actuator is configured with a pre-heat value and a read fly height actuator is configured with a read value. When the head is over a target data sector, the write fly height actuator is configured with a first

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo sectors defining a plurality of servo tracks. The servo tracks form a plurality of servo zones. A disk locked clock is synchronized relative to a servo data rate of the servo zone the hea

Disclosed is an alignment system comprising: an upper reflector to couple to an end effecter and a camera kit to couple to a fixture. The camera kit includes: a plurality of light sources; a camera; and a lower reflector including a camera opening and a plurality of light source open

A method of operating a disk drive comprises scanning each Logical Block Address (LBA) of the disk drive to detect a read error or reading the LBA from a media defect list. The LBA may then be converted to a corresponding physical location on the media and a scan of the corresponding

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, and control circuitry operable to seek the head to a target track and settle the head on the target track during a settle time, adapt a settle parameter used to settle the head on the t

A method of picking and placing a workpiece relative to a disk drive may include steps of providing a robotically controlled tool, a servo motor assembly for moving the tool, at least one controller for controlling the tool and the servo motor assembly, and a machine vision assembly coup

A novel disk drive includes a disk drive base that includes a plurality of mounting recessions. Each of a plurality of mounting inserts at least partially protrudes into a respective one of the plurality of mounting recessions, and contacts the disk drive base. Each of the plurality of

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, an actuator arm, a head coupled to a distal end of the actuator arm, a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to actuate the head over the disk in coarse movements by rotating the actuator arm about a pivot, and a microactuator operable to actuat

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk surface, and a head actuated over the disk surface. A first fly height measurement is generated for the head over the disk surface by measuring a first metric, and a second fly height measurement is generated for the head over the disk surface

A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a read head, a load beam, and a laminate flexure. The laminate flexure includes a structural layer, a dielectric layer, and a conductive layer that includes a plurality of electrical traces. The laminate flexure includes a tongue porti

A head stack assembly (HSA) for a disk drive includes an actuator body, at least one actuator arm extending from the actuator body, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The FPC includes first and second pluralities of electrically conductive FPC traces, each having a distal portion

A head gimbal assembly includes a rotary fine actuator attached to the head mounting tongue. The rotary fine actuator includes a fixed portion, a head mounting platform, first and second piezoelectric elements, and first and second curved compliant members. The first piezoelectric el

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over the disk, a preamp, and an interconnect for coupling the head to the preamp. The interconnect comprises a first transmission line stacked over a second transmission line, and a dielectric between the first transmission

A disk drive includes a spindle that defines a spindle rotation axis, and a disk drive base that has a base depression bounded by a first base depression brim. A disk is attached to the spindle, and the disk includes a disk outer peripheral extent. The disk drive includes a disk limiter

A method of aligning a partition of a data storage device to a boundary of a physical data sector is disclosed. The data storage device comprises a non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of physical data sectors, wherein each physical data sector comprises a plurality of logical data

"A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk wherein a Native Command Queuing (NCQ) access command is received from a host. The NCQ access command comprises at least one logical block address (LBA) associated with a logical block, and a tag field for identifying the

Disclosed is a clamp fastener that includes a convex head to prevent damage due to contact from a cover of a disk drive. The disk drive comprises a disk, a spindle motor, a disk clamp mounted to a top surface of the disk, and a clamp fastener. The clamp fastener includes a convex hea

Data storage devices are provided according to various embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, a data storage device comprises a host interface, a buffer, a storage media interface, and a data manipulation engine. The data manipulation engine comprises a receive pipe

A flexure tail of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) is aligned with a flex cable of a head stack assembly (HSA). At least one solder ball is adhered to a bond pad on the flex cable. The solder ball is entered into a first alignment hole in the flexure tail while the solder ball is solid.

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head for writing data to the disk, a first touchdown sensor, a second touchdown sensor, and control circuitry comprising a first current source coupled to the first touchdown sensor and a second current source coupled to the second touch

A method of assembling a head stack assembly (HSA) includes securing a flex cable to an actuator including an actuator arm having a side slot with a slot end. A first head gimbal assembly (HGA) is attached to the actuator arm. The first HGA includes a first laminated flexure having a

Disclosed herein are embodiments directed to a head gimbal assembly including a novel suspension assembly that includes a flexure tail with a first plurality of apertures in its structural layer. Each of the first plurality of apertures underlies a first trace but not a second trace.

A storage device comprising a storage media and a controller is disclosed. The controller is configured to receive access commands from a host, to write data to or read data from the storage media based on the access commands, to detect a trigger event, and, when the trigger event is

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a head stack assembly cartridge is provided. The head stack assembly cartridge includes a base plate having a pivot shaft for pivotally mounting a head stack assembly and a base voice coil motor magnet attached to an inner surface of the

An apparatus comprises a gear mechanism for imparting planetary motion about a central axle to a plurality of mandrels used for holding substrates in a process bath. The plurality of mandrels are mounted to a pair of end plates, the mandrels and end plates collectively comprise a car

A non-volatile semiconductor memory is disclosed comprising a first memory device having a memory array including a plurality of memory segments, and a data register for storing write data prior to being written to one of the memory segments. A memory controller comprises a microproc

A disk drive head stack assembly has a flexible printed circuit (FPC) including a flex cable and a flex stiffener. The flex stiffener includes a terminal region support portion that is attached to the actuator body, a flex cable guide portion, and a stiffener bend. The stiffener bend is

A data storage system is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory and a first interface operable to receive a write command from a host, the write command comprising a host write data block having a host logical block size. A block mapping bridge divides the host write data block into

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk surface, a head coupled to a distal end of an actuator arm, and a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) servo loop and a microactuator servo loop operable to actuate the head over the disk surface. The mic

A non-volatile semiconductor memory is disclosed comprising a memory device including a plurality of memory segments. A program command is issued to the memory device to program a memory segment, and a program time required to execute the program command is saved. An erase command is

A disk drive under assembly is disclosed that comprises a suspension assembly that includes a head gimbal assembly (HGA) that has a lift tab and a shipping comb that includes a protruding member that extends from the shipping comb and a bearing member that supports the suspension ass

A screwdriver sleeve finder comprises a sleeve, a fastener stop, purge channels, and ports. The sleeve is mountable on a screwdriver around a bit for driving a threaded fastener. The fastener stop is disposed within the sleeve between a forward bore and a rearward bore, and defines,

A non-volatile semiconductor memory is disclosed comprising a first memory device including a plurality of memory segments, and control circuitry operable to determine whether a memory segment in the first memory device needs refreshing, and when the memory segment needs refreshing,

A disk drive head stack assembly includes an actuator arm tip that includes a swaging hole centered about a swaging axis. A first suspension assembly has a first swage boss that protrudes into the swaging hole. A second suspension assembly has a second swage boss that protrudes into

An electric screwdriver is coupled to an automatic screw feeding adaptor defining a screw path having a proximal end, a middle region and a distal end. A first screw is received within the screw feeding adaptor and held at a driving position near the distal end of the screw path by apply

A novel disk drive includes a disk and a spindle motor to which the disk is attached to rotate about an axis of rotation. The disk drive also includes a stationary plate facing and disposed over the disk, wherein the stationary plate includes a plurality of grooves through which rota

A disk drive includes a disk drive base, a disk, an actuator arm actuatable over the disk, and a motor. The motor is operable to rotate the disk, and is coupled to the disk drive base. During operation of the disk drive, the motor emits vibrations at a source vibration frequency. A v

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk including a plurality of tracks defined by servo sectors, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors. The disk drive further comprises a preamp circuit operable to amplify a read signal emanating from the

A novel head gimbal assembly (HGA) for use in a disk drive is disclosed. Each of a plurality of electrically conductive traces of a flexure of the HGA includes a connection region that is aligned with and connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of electrically conductive bonding